4) Engage professional help to remove data

4) Engage professional help to help remove data:

Contacting data brokers directly Data brokers are companies that extract information from public records and compile it into a database, thereafter selling it. This includes information such as your birthday, phone number, home address, salary, as well as names of neighbors and family members. This information can be used to hack into other online accounts by giving people hints on how you might answer security questions. Examples of brokers include Whitepages, Spokeo, Intelius, and MyLife. As data brokers are legally required to remove information if you request for them to do so, you can submit a request to the individual companies to remove information you do not want to be online. For example, for Whitepages: • https://www.whitepages.com/suppression-requests – enter the URL of the website or social media account you would like to remove. Thereafter, follow the steps required. • https://privacybee.com/blog/how-to-remove-yourself-from-data-broker-sites/ this article also highlights the common data broker sites and steps to remove your information.

It is advisable for you to create a spare email account to undergo this process, so as to avoid providing personal information.

Engaging online reputation management companies In some instances, unwanted information about you may be available online when a Google search is done. Professional online reputation management companies such as Metal Rabbit and Reputation Defender can assist to push out negative content about yourself and include more information about yourself that you would like to highlight. Locally, companies such as BestSeo Singapore can also provide such services, in addition to other digital marketing strategies such as optimizing search engine appearances and generating positive reviews about your personal brand or company.